Happiest Place on Earth

Happiest Place on Earth

Sunday, August 22, 2010

St. Louis Vacation, End Note...

We got home last night. St. Louis is finally in the books after a seven year wait and a long trip back. And that makes me smile.

And so I want to mention that when I began blogging some 5 years ago now, I always wanted to keep it real. I have actually had people offer condolences after reading some of the stories I've written about various vacations. And that makes me laugh... because if I was to post only the pictures where everyone is smiling and tell only the tales where no one gets hurt, what kind of existence would that really be?

I think that somewhere in the back of my mind, I hope that someone out there is reading this and figures that if our family can survive vacationing together, maybe their family should give it a try, too! I'm not sure there's anyone in the world who loves to go on vacation as much as I do... even if it doesn't always come out perfect... on paper...

I did have one moment late in the trip when I thought to myself, "I bet it will be a whole lot easier to do this when we're down to Ian: age 17 and Miah: age 14". And then I caught myself and smirked... or maybe winced... because it occurred to me that even though it will be easier, it probably won't be nearly as much fun. They won't want to do the kinds of silly things they love to do now. And I will miss that... a lot.

That's not to say that I don't dream of one day lying out on a private beach... just Phil and me... thinking about all the fun times we had when the kids were little and reveling in the fact that there are no more poopy diapers or temper tantrums. But I am quite content to wait for those days... at least for awhile...

It seems that waterparks have a knack for catchy tunes that stick with me a whole lot longer than I ever would have intended, and as I sit at my kitchen table, I find myself humming one just now. I had to look it up to get all the lyrics, and it is sung by some guy who calls himself... or his band... or something, "Uncle Kracker". It's just a hunch, but I'm guessing I wouldn't be too impressed by the rest of his music, so I'm not even going to bother to do the research. But "Smile" caught me off guard, and it's probably a pretty perfect fit for how I feel about this family of mine... even if they make me want to pull my hair out sometimes, too...

Lisa

Lyrics for "Smile":

You´re better then the best
I´m lucky just to linger in your life
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow that´s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok yeah it´s ok
And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Even when you´re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Don´t know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile
Ohh you make me smile
Ohh you make me smile

PS One last thought... Ian was completely wasted by the end of the trip. On our return home, he must have told us that he was hungry a zillion times (even when we'd just eaten), and he kept pointing out restaurants that he wanted to stop at. He was doing just anything he could think of to stay awake! He finally conked out less than half an hour from home, and when I pulled him out of the van and carried him up to the house, I caught his reflection in the screen door. He had the happiest look of contentment on his face... just a huge smile. I'm glad we're back. L.

No comments: